Pakistani Christians Stand with Victims of Violence in India

A human rights activist and lawmaker condemns anti-Christian violence by Hindu fundamentalists and calls on the United Nations to intervene.

ISLAMABAD (AsiaNews) - Pakistani Christians last Sunday expressed their solidarity towards their brethren in India. They strongly condemned the anti-Christian violence perpetrated by Hindu fundamentalists.In a statement released from the headquarters of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) in Islamabad, National Assembly Member and APMA Chairman Shahbaz Bhatti condemned the mistreatment of religious minorities in India and called on the United Nations to protect the lives and properties of minorities in India.

The Catholic lawmaker condemned attacks on Christians and their places of worship and said that religion is being used to discriminate in India, ostensibly a secular state, yet scene of acts of persecution that have left many people dead and injured, churches set on fire, places of worship desecrated, and more than 50,000 Christians forced into refugee camps.

"While violence continues in Orissa, [. . .] anti-Christian extremists have unleashed another wave of attacks on Christians in Karnataka" and "in Jharkand and other states," he said, adding that this violence against minorities in India had surged as fanatic Hindu extremist elements go unpunished.

He expressed fear that violence against vulnerable minorities could escalate and urged the Indian government to take stringent action against those elements that are causing harm to ethnic and religious minorities in the country.

Bashir Shafqat, leader of the National Christian Party, on Sunday staged a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club to raise awareness in the media about the genocide of Christians by extremist Hindus in India.

Speaking to protesters, Mr Shafqat slammed the atmosphere of insecurity that surrounds Christian places of worship and the flight of thousands of people who have become homeless.